Preschool Party

Ethan's preschool had a Christmas party, and Ethan was so excited! We had a countdown the past few weeks. Every morning he'd wake up, and ask "how many more sleeps" until the Christmas party.

First, they played a little duck duck goose.

Then, they chose a present (each student brought a present to share with classmates).

After they opened their gifts, they had snacks and juice, and then got to play a little bit more. Full disclosure - Ethan wasn't happy about his gift at first. All the other kids got super heroes, and he got a Jenga set. It wasn't until AFTER we got home that he realized how COOL his gift was! He's been building stuff with it ever since :)

I love that I get to volunteer in his class! It's really cool to see him in this kind of environment. He's so outgoing and social.

Ethan with two of his closest friends. Getting 2 out of 3 kids to look at the camera is a huge feat! 

This was the moment Ethan realized how cool his gift was! It's so adorable that he sticks out his tongue whenever he's concentrating.

That day was so fun - being able to volunteer at his classroom, and then going home and playing all day with his new game. Spending time with this little man is the best feeling in the whole world!

"Every child you encounter is a divine appointment."

~ Wess Stafford, President, Compassion International

Snow Day

If you're from Oregon, you know how weird it is to 

1. GET snow

2. For that snow to STAY on the ground

Well, last week, it haaaaaappened.

I was teaching a class at my gym when I saw it snowing. I figured, ehh it'll melt. No big deal. Well, when my class dismissed, I realized the snow wasn't going anywhere! 

I'd previously arranged a playdate for Ethan for after school. I let his friend's mom know that I'd be picking up the kids early from school so we could get home before the roads got too slick.

Well, I was definitely too late for that! After an HOUR of trying to get home, we finally had to pull over and walk. We live on a very hilly side of town, and I saw car after car get in an accident. Oregonians just don't know how to drive in the snow!

Here we are, walking up the hill…

When we got home, I thought the kids might want to make some snow angels. Ethan is impervious to the cold, so he loved it. His friend, however, was NOT having it!

Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.
John Ruskin 

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was so fun this year. We packed up and drove to Mema's house (she only lives a few hours away).

Ethan was so excited because he has a little best friend that lives down in Medford. They are so cute together! They play tag and super heroes and watch movies together. This age is so fun.

We enjoyed great company and had some amazing food! But no joke - only took two pictures. 

I have a hard time taking pictures while having family time. I really just want to enjoy the moment, rather than spend the entire time snapping shots with my camera.

Sorry-not-sorry

On our way down to Medford. This is Ethan's "cheese" face - although I'm sure you already figured that out! 

He's such a great traveller, but probably because we've trained him since he was a baby :)

Taya and I making goofy faces. She's so much better at it than I am!

I love the holidays because I feel they bringer us so much closer to each other, and remind us how to be kind. I wish the holidays lasted all year - minus the colder weather (obvi).

“HAPPINESS [is] ONLY REAL WHEN SHARED” 
― Jon Krakauer, Into the Wild

Adoption Update

We get asked all the time about how the adoption is going, so I thought it would be best to write about it! 

**By the way, I love getting asked. It means so much to know other people are rooting for us.**

This process can be summed up in just two words:

ROLLER COASTER

(did anyone else think that was just one word? It's two, if everyone was wondering)

One thing I can safely say is that this process has put us in touch with some pretty amazing people. I've had family and friends show their support - and that has meant so much. I can't tell you what it's like to open my e-mail or Facebook and receive some encouraging words. It makes me realize that I need to do that more often! Every time we get one of these, I'm reduced to a ball of grateful tears. If you have done this, I hope you know it has meant the world to us.

We have also been in contact with a few women considering adoption who have really touched our hearts. Even though it has not *yet* worked out with these courageous mothers, I feel so blessed to have known them. We so look forward to having a child placed with us, but also look forward to having a positive relationship with the mother who will make this decision. 

So… no big news for now :)

We just wanted to give you an update, and tell you how much we appreciate your support!

Halloween 2013

So…. Now that it's almost Thanksgiving, I suppose I can post about Halloween, right?

Mmmmmk

For the two weeks leading up to Halloween, Ethan would wake up and cry about how he wanted that day to be Halloween. 

Let's just say I was as ready for Halloween to be here as he was!

A month before Halloween, he chose a Spiderman costume.

Yeah - I wasn't surprised.

Little boys are just super heroes in disguise :)

We met up with some friends for pizza. You know, just to make sure we'd have plenty of strength for our long trek around our beautiful neighborhood.

Then we made sure all the kids' costumes were pristine and ready to go!

Disclaimer: All these pictures are blurry. Getting kids to stand still on Halloween = impossible.

Ethan and his friends playing tag.

That smile when I told him it was time to trick-or-treat already!

There's nothing in this world that makes me feel more special than Ethan holding my hand. He was so proud that both Billy and I went trick-or-treating with him.

All the kids lined up. There were more - I just couldn't fit them all in the shot! 

Each one was just as precious as the other. It was a great night.

Can't wait until next year!

Nothing on Earth so beautiful as the final haul on Halloween night.  ~Steve Almond

Apple Picking

Okay okay - I know I always brag about how awesome Oregon is. But seriously! We get to go apple picking! 

I mean, come on.

And the apples - they're so amazing! I had no idea the difference between apples you get at the grocery store versus apples picked right off a tree. The taste and texture are night and day. 

If you get a chance, hop on up here and I'll take you apple picking :)

TRYING to get Ethan to pause for a photo op. If you look closely, you can see he's already eating an apple. He can't get enough of them!

Ohhh this kid. He melts my heart. Here is trying to run away from me and the camera. He was intent on picking eating apples, and got annoyed when I got in his way!

My favorite part of this orchard? It was so family-friendly. One of the workers takes the kids on a tiny tractor ride when we finished picking apples. The boys were in heaven.

And last but not least, the boys got to check out a gigantic tractor. There is something about boys and big trucks or tractors - they just can't get enough.

The best part about apple picking is that Ethan's friend Simon came along with us. It was so heart-warming to hear them giggling in the back seat together. Thank goodness for good friends.

"The only way to have a friend is to be one."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Weekend Getaway

Last month, we had a weekend getaway at the coast with some of our friends. And it was

Legen - wait for it - dary. Legendary!

We are so blessed to have such great grandparents for Ethan.

 Both sets of parents jumped at the chance to watch our handsome little man while we had some alone couple romance hubba hubba time!

We chose a weekend in Lincoln City, because we are so enamored with the ocean. I think we have been so spoiled - after living so close to the beach, I don't think we could ever live away from it. There is something so humbling and spiritual about looking at (or swimming in) this body of water so huge - so much larger than life. 

I'm kind of bummed because we never got a group shot, but the couple we went with is great. In fact, I think we may be obsessed with them :) They live about an hour away, so we don't get to spend much time with them, so being able to have a whole weekend was pretty awesome.

We started our weekend by exploring the beach..

I may or may not have overused the panorama setting on my phone. Sorry-not-sorry.

Also, once seeing this pic, I took that sweatshirt back STAT.

We had to remember Ethan with a Spiderman picture.

Our second day was filled with sleeping in, antique shopping and eating at Pelican Pub in Pacific City. This is quite possibly our favorite restaurant and our favorite beach. Win-win. How hot does Billy look in this pic? Mmm-mmm.

We so enjoyed some time to reconnect just us, and the opportunity we had to just talk and hold hands while walking down the beach. 

We are so grateful to such wonderful parents that make this possible!

What's a beach trip without tons of pictures of the... BEACH? Every picture was stick-it-on-your-wall worthy.

The amazingly gorgeous cottage we stayed in!

We loved every second of it.

One last parting pic of Pacific City. These blue skies were unprecedented! It was sunny almost the entire time we were at the coast. 

We may already be planning our next getaway...

"Who, being loved, is poor?" -Oscar Wilde

OUR Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

Well, a week before Ethan's field trip, we went to the Pumpkin Patch as a family. We've gone every year since he was small enough for us to lay him next to a pumpkin for a photo op! It's one of our favorite traditions. Fall in Oregon is seriously so beautiful and so fun.

The minute we got there, we had to go on a train ride (we may or may not have gone on several more as well!)...

Ethan was so pumped for this! He's a typical boy, and is kind of obsessed with trains. The conductor was hilarious, and Ethan even gave him a high five afterward.

We went on a hay ride to pick out a pumpkin, and here's Ethan on our way back. He was so excited about his white pumpkin! We've decided we're going to carve it into an angry bird pumpkin.

They had this gigantic slide, and needless to say, we were there for about 20 minutes!

I love the look of joy on kids' faces when they go down slides. Every time - Every. Time. - is just as magical as the last. I don't ever want him to lose his sense of wonder.

“Wonder is the beginning of wisdom.” ― Socrates

Preschool Field Trip

I got to do something so cool last week!

What's that, might you ask?

I got to go to Ethan's preschool field trip to the Pumpkin Patch. It was seriously so fun. I love the age Ethan's at, because he's still so excited for me to do stuff with him and his friends. He was so proud I was able to come with his class. He kept telling kids, "This is MY mommy."

I've said it before - he melts my heart.

Ethan got to pick out a pumpkin. He was such a boy about it. Just walked into the patch, picked one up, and said this is it!

I love this picture, because you can see these boys had three mommies trying to get them to look at the camera. - Yeah, didn't work did it?

Whoops.

Okay, these kids couldn't get enough of these little hamster pipes! Look at these boys trying to roll the kids inside. This could've kept them busy for hours.

I got him to stop moving for maybe 5 seconds. He was just way to busy!

What a perfect class photo! His teacher's aide is on the left, and his teacher on the right. These two women are so amazing. Hands-on and playful, the kids love them so much. We feel so blessed!

We ended with pumpkin bowling - just as much fun as it sounds!

I feel so blessed to stay at home with my little man. It's been so amazing to be involved with his school activities. I can't wait for many more years of school to come!

“Motherhood is near to divinity. It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind.” 
― Howard W. Hunter

Preschool

I really can't believe my baby is old enough to be in preschool.

Okay, he was old enough last year. 

I was too selfish to give him up, though...

This year, however, he has been begging to go to school. 

We found a great Preschool called Sonshine Baptist - which is just a few blocks from Billy's office. That means Billy can surprise Ethan by picking him up. Ethan loves his daddy.

Ethan woke up early with anxiousness and anticipation. He made sure his backpack was loaded with all of his school supplies, and was ready to go WELL before we needed to leave! I'm going to have to remind him of this when he's 14..

(I have to add that on our way to school, we heard Jesse in his backpack. He tried to smuggle in his Toy Story toys!)

We took some pictures to commemorate his first day. 

Here's how it went...

First, he wanted to be a monster.

SO TOUGH!

This is what happens when I ask him to smile. I just love this awkward grin!

Finally a natural smile after I told a joke about poop. 

...Of course :)

And there we have it! The perfect picture! Look at those beautiful brown eyes. Who wouldn't fall in love with those eyes? 

He's finally ready for preschool.

________________________________________________

Billy and I both walked him to his first day of school. The classroom was colorful, and the teachers were super friendly. He also has a really small class full of almost all boys (those poor teachers). Ethan was in heaven!

WHAT? Who invited Spider-Man?

Cute story - his bff Henrick is in his class. After taking both their hands off the door and pasting them onto the wall in their classroom, Ethan put there hands together and said, "Now our hands can be best friends too!"

-This boy melts my heart.

I was on the edge of my emotions all day, feeling like this is the beginning of him growing up. The beginning of him needing me less and less. One of my favorite books is The Giving Tree. I still can't get through it without crying. I know now in some small way how that tree felt, and I have a feeling that I may more fully understand how she felt as time goes on.

"And she loved a little boy very, very much - even more than herself."

-Shel Silverstein

Fun at the Zoo

Who doesn't love the zoo?? This thought ran through my mind when one of Ethan's BFF's invited us to join them at the zoo in Portland today. We said OF COURSE.

One thing I love about this friend is that he's adopted. I love that it helps familiarize Ethan with this concept. Ethan has now started talking about how he's going to be a big brother soon, but that his baby brother/sister is in another mommy's belly :) How sweet is that? He melts my heart.

First, we had to ride the golden goat...

Then, we used our binoculars to view the Sea Lions.

Then, we took a popcorn break. We also got to view the "All Star" animals up close and personal. These boys loved every second..

Then, we had a photo op right by the elephants..

I've been chomping at the BIT to see the new baby elephant at the zoo.

Did you know elephant's are pregnant for 2 years? Think about it..

Right as we walked up, the mama elephant was cleaning the baby elephants bum. The boys had a hay day with that one!

I have to admit - the boys' favorite part was looking at the map. 

What little men we have!

And again with the maps! Folding them back up was just as fun as exploring with them.

I don't think I'll ever get over the fact that we have a zoo so close by. I think I may get just as excited as Ethan to see the animals!

"Hey Mom! If all my skin fell off, there would be blood everywhere. Then I could be the Blood Monster! That would be SO COOL!" - Ethan

Let's be Sympathetic to Birthmoms

Something I didn't anticipate when announcing our choice to adopt was the stigma that is placed upon birth moms. It has never crossed my mind that a birth mom was anything less than a brave, incredibly unselfish person, so imagine my surprise finding out others might feel differently!

Some examples:

1. She's giving her baby away, so she probably doesn't care.

2. She's probably in high school, or a drop out.

3. She just wants someone to babysit her kid and pay her bills.

4. She can't parent - she's too young.

5. She probably doesn't have a support system.

I thought I could use this post to break some of these stigmas down.

1. She is not giving her baby away. 

She is placing her baby with a family that she has chosen after a (usually) long, exhaustive process. She has agonized over this decision, and she cares tremendously where her baby ends up, and how her baby is raised. She cares so much, in fact, that she is putting her baby's needs before her own. 

2. Many times a birth mother has finished high school and is over the age of 20. Adoption is not just for the 16-year-old sophomore (Sorry, 16 & Pregnant). These mothers can be very responsible, sometimes they are even in college. They are obviously responsible enough to recognize the importance of a baby having two stable parents in the home.

3. Adoption is most definitely not babysitting. A birth mother is looking for someone who will PARENT her child in a thoughtful and caring manner. She's looking for someone who will give her child everything she couldn't. Daycare is $2.50/hr. She could keep her baby and get a babysitter if she wanted to. Many times the birth mother takes on more of an aunty role, rather than a 3rd parent.

4. I would like to point out that most birth moms can parent. They just realize that the circumstances they are in are not ideal for a child. They are mature enough to realize that sometimes a baby deserves and needs more than she can give - which is a stable home environment. Also, see point #2 about their age. Sometimes they are not too young.

5. It's true, sometimes birth mothers do not have a support system; however, many times their support system is the reason they're able to place their child in the first place. 

Birth moms have a bad rap, and I'm not sure why. Many single women choose to parent their babies, and do a great job - it's what is best for them. But for some mothers, what is best for their children IS adoption. Let's make sure to use positive adoption language and support those women. Hug them and love them - they gave their baby and two parents the greatest gift.

Birth moms rock.

"A Birthmother puts the needs of her child above the wants of her heart"

Skye Hardwick
founder of "Life Mothers"

Sleepy Time is the Best Time

One of our favorite things to do before we go to bed is to walk into Ethan's room and watch him sleep?

Creepy? Ehh.. Probably.

But he just looks so angelic!

No matter what we've been through that day - whether it be embarrassing questions at the store, "Mommy, you smell bad. Did you toot?"

Or

Pee on the bathroom floor

Or 

A tantrum because we're going to a friend's house ..???

It just does our hearts good to see him safe and sound, with no cares in the world.

After all, that's how it should be, right?

“You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep 

because reality is finally better than your dreams.” 

-Dr. Seuss

Preschool Registration - Where Has the Time Gone??

I can't believe I'm registering my baby for preschool. I have put this moment off for way too long - after all, school starts in less than 2 weeks. 

Ethan could not be more excited.

We decided to enroll him in Sonshine Baptist Preschool. They have a great teacher:kid ratio, and a super awesome curriculum! 

I feel so Grown Up asking about teacher:kid ratios and curriculums. 

It feels pretty awesome.

We decided to have a little photo shoot on our way back to the car.

This is what happened...

Ninja

Spiderman

Batman

"I'm going to do some fighting moves so the kids will think I'm tough, okay Mom?"

Our FAVORITE Super Hero

I've said it before and I'll say it again:

Little boys = super heroes

End of story.

Ethan and his friend Xander

Little boys are just super heroes in disguise.

Water Toys.. the Best Kind

I'm not sure why I bother buying summer clothes for Ethan. He always just ends up in his swim trunks one way or another! Who am I kidding - I wouldn't have it any other way.

We are both fish.

There's something magical about getting a group of boys together. Anyone can become a super hero - anything can become a flying device or a light saber - you get the idea! It's such a treat to just sit back and watch these boys' minds work. And all it took was a bounce-house water slide to make it all possible.

Favorite Ethan quote of the day:
"I wish God would've made us robots."